Our Midweek Bible study is in full swing, meeting on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 in the church office conference room. Our topic is an especially interesting look into the “Spiritual Realms.” All are welcome to join the group, there is plenty of room for everyone. The only necessary materials are your Bible and a desire for conversation and learning more about God’s Word for His people.
Bible Study Archive
Mid-Week Bible Study
Posted August 27, 2024 By adminCatechetical Instruction to Begin in August
Posted August 22, 2024 By adminThe Confirmation process will soon begin for several of our younger church family members. Emma, Gabriel, Samantha, Copeland, Bryleigh, and MacKenzie will all be joining Pastor David for lessons in the Old and New Testaments, as well as exploring Luther’s Small Catechism. The two-year period of instruction will conclude on Pentecost Sunday in 2026. That seems like a long way off, but truly the time will pass by quickly for these faithful youth members. Please pray for them as they embark on this journey where they will come to the point when each one will stand and publicly claim the promises God made to them at the time of their Baptism. Confirmation Instruction is currently scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 25th at 3:00 PM in the church office.
Music Notes
Posted August 19, 2024 By adminHandbell camp 2024 has come to an end. We’ve learned much about reading music, we’ve learned how to make bells “sing”, and we learned about the liturgy of our church service. This final week, we read about the Passover and the Last Supper and concluded with baking communion bread for Sunday’s service. Thank you to everyone who got kids to camp, provided meals and stayed as an extra adult on duty. It’s been a great summer.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Psalm 100 tells us that it is God who has made us and all that we have. David tells us to come into the house of the Lord making a joyful noise, to come to Him with singing. He doesn’t say our singing has to be professional or anything other than a joyful noise, and we are all capable of that.
Chancel choir practice begins Wednesday, September 4 at 5:30 pm. We will share fellowship and dinner in the church office building and follow with a reading of the music for this fall. Please join us. All are welcome. No prior experience is needed. Think you can’t sing? I bet you’re wrong. Come, give us six weeks and see how it goes. Can’t commit to weekly rehearsal? Join us for the Christmas cantata. Can’t sit with us on Sunday morning because you have children to sit with? Sit with your family and come to the choir loft for the anthem. We need you. God wants you. Please join us.
Please let Angela know if you will be attending the meal on September 4 so we can plan the food. Thank you and God bless you.
Up and Going
Posted August 15, 2024 By adminThe July Up and Going Meeting was held on Thursday, July 11th at 11 AM in the Fellowship Hall with 19 attending.
Helen, Team Leader, gave the devotions “From the Heart with Candace Cameron Bure” entitled “Embrace Joy in the Rhythm of Your Everyday Life.” Candace challenges each of us: “This summer you might be surprised to discover that when we look for the joy of the Lord in everything, we find it.” Helen passed out an article entitled “Discover the Keys to a Flourishing Life!”
Bob gave a most interesting program on Prayer, talking with God. Bible reading was from Matthew 6:5. Bob read to us Luther’s Morning and Evening Prayers. Luther instructs us that prayer is a Labor above all Labors. Do not forget: Prayer is a duty commanded of us by God.
Everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch of various meats, salads, vegetables and desserts. So delicious! Business was conducted before lunch.
Treasurer’s report was given by Gary.
The blessing for our meal was given by Helen.
The August Meeting will be our Annual 4 Churches Meeting at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, Little Mountain, on the 3rd Wednesday, August 21st at 11 AM in their Fellowship Hall. They will provide the meat, rolls, tea and paper products. We each are asked to bring a covered dish or dessert. Please attend if possible. This is always a very special time together.
Helen
Team Leader for
Up and Going
VBS
Posted August 12, 2024 By adminThank you to all of our volunteers for making VBS a success! Thanks to all of our participants for spending your nights with us at VBS as we studied “Truth comes from God”, ”God’s Plan is Best”, “Everyone Sins and needs a Savior”, “Everyone Needs Jesus”, and “Jesus is the only way!”.
From Your Pastor’s Heart
Posted August 11, 2024 By adminWe give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
So far, for many people this has been quite a summer. For some, the days have been dreadfully hot and dry. For others, summer has brought with it an opportunity for vacation and travel with family and friends. And for those who are apt to volunteer, it has been a summer filled with church work. I can count several people for whom this has been a summer of recovery from illness or medical procedures. We have members of our church family for whom this has been a summer of mourning and grief. In all of these, I can say that as your pastor, it has been a summer of prayer.
In his letters to various churches, the apostle Paul consistently begins by lifting up prayers of thanksgiving for the saints to whom he is writing. Whether he is writing to Christians just coming to faith, a church needing encouragement, or a congregation mired in conflict, Paul gives thanks for the faith of those who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. In doing so, Paul sets a wonderful example for Christians in all places to follow. When I read Paul’s words concerning his thanksgiving and prayers for others, I usually find myself spending a good bit of time in prayer for St. Jacob’s.
As some of you know, I like to begin my week in prayer for our church family. One ritual is to take the Sunday worship bulletin and pray for those on our various prayer lists. One by one, the names of people who are sick, recovering or home bound stand out. I pray for the various friends and family members who are not members of our congregation but listed as those needing continual prayer. It’s humbling to know that, even as we pray for others we do not know, through faith, our prayers are heard and received by our Father in heaven.
Another prayerful activity I enjoy is going through our church directory and simply praying for church family members whose names randomly come to the forefront. I sincerely believe that as I look through the listing of families, God calls me to pray for certain individuals or families for whatever circumstances they may be experiencing. Sometimes, I will send a card to those for whom I pray so they know their pastor prayed for them. Sometimes, people will tell me that the card came at just the right time; that they really needed to know someone prayed for them. For this reason, it is important that we keep up our relationships with our prayer partners.
I think that in this summer of prayer, the thing I have enjoyed most is knowing how many St. Jacob’s church family members, and members of congregations in my past, have prayed for me. This summer has brought challenges to my health that I had never foreseen coming. Like many people to whom I have ministered, I find myself facing the realization that our bodies do not last forever, and that they truly do need the care and attention of those whom God has gifted for medical procedures.
Needless to say, I’m likely not the most agreeable patient, and I truly don’t like sharing such personal information. But in order to practice what I have preached for nearly twenty years, I have softened my stance and learned that there is no weakness in asking for prayer. In fact, it takes great strength to open up and solicit the prayers of the faithful.
I’m thankful for the blessing of being your pastor, and in the words of St. Paul, I give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in my prayers. Thank you also to the many who have prayed for me. We are all blessed with the gift of God’s love, especially as we share his love with one another, giving thanks in all circumstances for the grace God makes available through his son Jesus Christ. As always, I will continue to keep you in my prayers.
Grace and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila
Pastoral Devotion for August – Lord, Hear Our Prayer
Posted August 3, 2024 By adminRead: Mark 9:14-29
There is one thing that is fairly certain, we all, at one time or another, ask people to keep us in their prayers. Another thing that is certain is that others have asked us to do the same. Prayer is a central part of Christian living. We pray for healing, comfort, peace and happiness. We pray for so many things, but what happens when we do not immediately recognize God’s answer?
Some, although they believe, begin to have doubts. The man, whose son was possessed, believed one of Jesus’ followers could cast out the demon. When this did not happen, doubt crept into the situation. The word “if” is pursed upon his lips; “If you can…help us.”
Jesus teaches us the power of prayer. “Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find” (Mt. 7:7-8). Our Lord teaches that as you pray, do so believing that you have already received that for which you pray. It is no small task; because of doubt, we often need visible proof that our prayers are truly answered. Still, God is faithful. As we pray in faith, the Holy Spirit provides us with confidence that God indeed hears our prayers and provides all we need.
As we continue to live in Christian fellowship with one another, we pray for the wellbeing of those whom we love, and even our enemies. We all need prayer; it leads us to greater faithfulness and confidence in believing the truth of God’s promises.
Continue to live a life of prayer, not simply for yourself, but for others as well. For as James says, “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)
Prayer: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Amen.
St. Jacob’s Youth Bible Study
Posted August 1, 2024 By adminAfter a week together during VBS in June, the senior youth asked for a continuation of our studies together and were eager for more opportunities to grow in faith. David and Susan are the main adult leaders, but it is the youth who help guide and direct what they want to study and offer prayers for the group. The youth grades 7-12 meet each Wednesday from 7:00-8:00 PM at the church office. Any youth interested in joining us, please talk to David or Susan. What an amazing group of young people and what a blessing it is to spend time with them!
Mid-Week Bible Study
Posted July 31, 2024 By adminOur Mid-week Bible study will resume on Wednesday, August 14th at 9:30 AM in the church office conference room. Our topic will be Sola Publishing’s study of The Spiritual Realms. We will take a close look at what God says through Holy Scripture about the places beyond this world. Questions such as “What happens when we die?” and “What exactly is Sheol?” will certainly be a part of the conversation. All materials will be provided to those who would like to participate in this study. Simply bring your Bible and enjoy the fellowship of your church family as we gather around God’s Word.
Up and Going
Posted July 23, 2024 By adminOn May 9th, seventeen members gathered in the fellowship hall for the regular Up and Going Meeting. It was a stormy, rainy morning, but the sunshine filled the fellowship hall as members gathered and filled the room with laughter and conversations.
Helen and Jean welcomed everyone. Joan gave the devotions with the reading of Psalm 1, the sharing from her Angel Book and prayer. Helen gave the blessing for our meal. The meal of many delicious salads and complimentary dishes and wonderful desserts were enjoyed by all. Comment was made, “that everyone should bring the same dish next month, everything was so good.”
Next came BINGO, always a fun time with lots of laughter and comments. Everyone won several times and chose prizes of their choice. Some prizes were then given to We Care and Mercy Boy Project and some prizes went home with us. We played and played until all prizes were gone. What a good time we had!!
June 13th, 2024, a beautiful summer day, the Up and Going gathered in the Fellowship Hall at 11 AM for the monthly meeting. Eighteen members and guests attended. Devotions were given by Team Leader, Helen. Devotions were from “Mornings with Jesus” booklet. Bible reading was from John 5:19 reminding us that “sons learn from their fathers” and we learn from our fathers and so we teach our sons. We shared special memories of our fathers. Business was conducted.
Mr. Travis Goodman, our Thrivent Representative, spoke to us about Thrivent, how the company operates and the many opportunities available to its clients. Travis is available to each of us should we desire additional information.
We all enjoyed a delicious covered dish meal and lots of great fellowship. The food was so good. We always have a wide variety of delicious dishes. Our next meeting will be held on July 11th at 11 AM in the fellowship hall. Bob will have the program. Lunch will be a covered dish meal. Hope to see you then.
Helen
Team Leader
Up and Going
